In an Aug. 30 letter, Lizbeth Heyer, assistant director of the Division of Public Housing and Rental Assistance, criticized Sousa for management lapses, including working unscheduled work hours outside of her office at home and removing an office computer work station to her home.

Sousa, the executive director of the MHA since 1991, told the board that the state Department of Housing and Community Development requires her to work 18 hours a week on a two-day work week.

"I've been criticized for not being here on my days, and that's where I find it offensive," Sousa said, stressing that she is "here every Tuesday and Thursday."

Sousa added that her position does at times require her to attend conferences and meetings outside of the office during her designated work schedule.

At a special meeting of the authority Sept. 10, Chuck McCullough, the board's treasurer and state appointee, read a prepared statement condemning the Heyer letter as "the continuing character assassination and slander" of Sousa "by the DHCD and others." Much of the discussion at that session focused on who leaked the letter to a weekly newspaper.

At that meeting, MHA Chairman Margaret DeMello asked that all comments be held until the Sept. 17 meeting.

On Tuesday, Mitchell maintained that the complaints about Sousa are largely from people who aren't residents of Village Court. "Why (is) the DHCD listening to only certain individuals that do not live here?," she said.

In the last five years, the MHA has received several letters of complaint about Sousa.

A former tenant and the family member of a current tenant are among those who have raised recent concerns which include the lack of timely repairs to apartments.

The dissension has created a rift among some residents. McCullough said when he arrived at Tuesday's meeting, he saw that Sousa's nameplate had been taken off her office door, broken in half, and stuck back on the door.

One resident said those who are dissatisfied should relocate.

"We are retired. We are supposed to be happy," said board member and Village Court resident Alicia Sullivan. "If you don't like it here, then move. It's sad we have to live like this because of a few people."